Dredge.



PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906.

J. F. LORBMAN.

DREDGE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9.1905

Fig. 6.

Suva/when cihmzaj7fianfman UNTKTEI) s'rATEs PATENT OFFIQE.

DREDGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1906.

Application filed August 9, 1905. Serial No. 273,433.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES FRANKLAN IJORE- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Crisfield, in the county of Somerset and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dredges, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved device for dredging and gathering crabs, oysters, and crustacea in general from the beds where they are known to congregate.

In dredging for oysters, crabs, &c., much difficulty is commonly experienced in preventing the dredge from turning over and in keeping it in an upright position, so that the scraping-bar will drag along the bed; and the object .of this invention is to obviate this difficulty by providing the scraping-bar with extensions which project outwardly and render it difficult for the dredge to turn upon its side.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire aknowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ordinary form of dredge, showing my improved scraping-bar attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of same. Fig. 3 is aside view, parts being broken away, and shows the method of attaching the scraping-bar to the frame. Fig. 4 is a side view of one form of the scraping-bar. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing a slightly-modified form of the scraping-bar. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of scraping-bar.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The invention is shown as applied to an oyster-dredge of the ordinary construction, the framework of which comprises side members formed out of lower bars 1 and upper bars 2. These bars 1 and 2 converge on eac side toward the front of the dredge and meet at 3, and the side members themselves meet at the front of the device, where an eye 4. is formed for the reception of a cable. At the opposite end of the dredge the upper bars 2 are bent around at 5 to meet the ends of the bars 1, the extremities of which are turned upward at 6. These two members are then secured together by means of a bolt 7 passing through corresponding openings therein. The framework of the dredge is reinforced by a transverse brace 8, and a small rod 9 is provided for convenience in securing the net in position, said rod 9 being fastened to the bolt 7 and extending for a short distance along the bar 1, after which it crosses over and is joined to the bar 2. The scraping-bar 10 is provided with upwardly-projecting portions, which are perforated and secured to the frame by means of a bolt 7-. In the ordinary form the scraping-bar simply connects the two side pieces of the frame and also projects slightly downward, so as to engage with the oyster-bed. As constructed by me the ends of the scraping-bar extend beyond the sides of the framework, and thus render it practically impossible upon its side. This result can be accomplished in any suitable manner, and one method is shown in Fig. 4:, in which the ends of the scraping-bar are bent back upon themselves at 1.1 before being secured to the frame, thereby forming extensions which project beyond the side of the dredge. A slightlymodified form of the scraping-bar is shown in. Fig. 5, in which the ends of the bar are bent around as in the previous instance and have their extremities turned up at 12 and provided with openings by means of which they are secured in position by the bolts 7. If de sired, the scraping-bar may also be formed, as shown in Fig. 6, by bending the ends thereof back against the side of the bar, as seen at 13, the extremities being turned upward and provided with openings to enable them to be secured in position in the usual manner. When using an oyster-dredge provided with this type of scraping-bar, it will be readily understood. that the outwardly projecting portions will enable the dredge to rest upon a comparatively broad surface and will give it a firm footing, which will render it extremely unliable to be tipped over upon its side.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A scraping-bar for dredges provided with an extension which projects beyond the side of the dredge and tends to prevent same from turning over.

2. A scraping-bar for dredges provided with extensions which project beyond the sides of the dredge and are formed by bending the ends of the scraping-bar back upon for the dredge to tip over' themselves before securing same to the framework, said extensions tending to prevent the dredge from turning upon its side.

3. A scraping-bar for dredges formed with extensions Which project beyond the sides of the dredge and are formed by bending the 1 ing to prevent the dredge from turning upon 10 its side.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES FRANKLAN LOREMAN. [1

ends of the bar back upon themselves and Witnesses: v then turning the extremities up for engege- J OSEPH W. DISHAROON, ment With the frame, said extensions tend- WM. J. PEYTON. 

